You are here

Perinatal Policy

Perinatal Policy Strategies

A Unified Commitment to Action

LA Best Babies Network and its partners work to identify and implement policy changes that will improve the lives of pregnant women, their babies, and their communities. The Network is focused on issues of access to care, quality of care, reducing health disparities, and improving workplace policies for women.

In October of 2005, LA Best Babies Network, the Los Angeles County Maternal and Child and Adolescent Health (MCAH) Programs, and the March of Dimes hosted the first Perinatal Summit,"Healthy Births Through Healthy Communities: Connecting Leadership to Achieve a Unified Commitment to Action." Over 170 Summit participants helped develop recommendations aimed at improving pregnancy and birth outcomes. Leadership teams developed 18-month action plans for each recommendation.

Listed below are the recommendations, followed by the policy strategies for accomplishing each recommendation:

Recommendation #1: Build upon and strengthen comprehensive perinatal services for all women.

Policy Strategies:

evaluate the quality of care provided through the Comprehensive Perinatal Services Program (CPSP).

align quality of care measures with CPSP reimbursement.

expand a quality framework for prenatal care in public and private insurance plans.

advocate for resources to train medical and social service providers serving at-risk populations.

promote best practices in early identification and treatment of perinatal depression.